A Beginner’s Guide to Building a Japanese Pantry in Portland | Eater Portland

"Located in Beaverton, this Japanese-American-owned Asian grocery feels comparable to a mid-sized supermarket in Tokyo: its shelves are loaded with hard-to-find condiments, Japanese cuts of fish, and a huge selection of noodles and snacks, and the deli sells prepared items like tempura, soba, unadon (grilled eel on rice), chirashi sushi, nigiri, and sashimi. I love that Uwajimaya even houses a complete Kinokuniya bookstore, a ramen shop, and a great selection of Asian face masks, Japanese hotpot equipment, and yukatas. Its freezer is full of higher-quality frozen ramen (silkier noodles and more complex broths), it carries specialized items like a 100-percent-buckwheat soba that’s gluten free, and its senbei selection is the best by far—many packages lack English, so I often ask staff for advice." - Jade Yamazaki Stewart